Proton Gen-2

In a range of utter mediocrity, the Gen-2 stood out. It looked good in a Brand X' kind of way, didn't cost a fortune and promised to be a keen drive thanks to input from Lotus, the famous sports car manufacturer Proton acquired in 2004.

It's not clear how much Lotus influenced the final design of the Gen- 2. The press pack that came with the test car talked loftily about it being a harmonious blend of Proton and Lotus characteristics' but it didn't let on how much of the work was done in the UK and how much back home in Malaysia.

Wherever the work was done there's no denying that the deep, concave lines and shoulders do give the Gen-2 a masculine appearance that isn't at all bad. It's a bit bland, admittedly, but the proportions are right.

More than once friends asked if it was a new Mazda or a Mitsubishi.

Mind you, the alloys don't quite fill the wheel-arches and a rear spoiler is completely over-the-top, because whatever else it may be the Gen-2 is no hot-hatch.

The 110 bhp Cam Pro' 1.6 felt quieter in the Gen-2 than it did in the last Proton I tested it in (an Impian) but no faster. Pulling power is adequate and you'll not be left behind at the lights, but the real performance is only to be found much closer to the red line at which point the engine's coffee grinder growl becomes too noisy for its own good.

The maximum speed is 118mph but I wouldn't like to put that claim to the test because my ear drums wouldn't stand it.

Fuel consumption is fairly unremarkable and you'll be looking to fill up at the 300-mile mark. The carbon monoxide figure puts this car in the class E tax band, most of its rivals sit one or two bands lower.

Lotus must have had a hand in the ride and handling on this car because it goes far better than you'd expect.

Striking a good balance between comfort and performance, the Proton heels into corners without too much roll and smothers the worst imperfections UK road builders can throw at it.

The gearbox, too, is easier and more precise - has Proton been working hard to improve the feel of its cars I wonder?

Sadly nothing much can be done about the lifeless steering. The Gen-2 goes where you point it but the steering is so light it doesn't feel as though the rack is connected to the front wheels at all.

Maybe the greater refinement levels over the Impian are the result of Proton's low gap technology', a posh way of saying it improved the door seals to keep wind and road noise out of the cabin.

And what of the cabin?

The Gen-2 is a bit longer than most of its rivals so there is adequate space in the front and back.

Experts from the Lotus design studio had a hand in creating the interior, which is classier and more modern than previous Protons.

The GSX model has leather highback sports seats and leather inserts in the doors. If only the rest of the cabin were trimmed to such a high standard.

Look a bit closer and you'll see that cheap plastic is everywhere.

It feels hollow when you knock on it and pretty grim when you run your hand over it. Proton reckons they were chosen for their low reflectivity, but what about their quality?

The test car was fitted with Proton's wireless Bluetooth communications system for mobile phones. That's very commendable, but why go and spoil things by sticking the biggest, goof-iest looking button on the fascia? It's an obvious afterthought that doesn't match any of the other switches or buttons and, in the final insult to my aesthetic sensibilities, glows blue at night.

If the Bluetooth button is too large then the controls for the Blaupunkt CD/radio are maddeningly tiny. Kudos to Proton for fitting a bespoke unit to the Gen-2 (too many other low-cost manufacturers just stick in a standard unit to the delight of thieves everywhere) but the control layout is just plain confusing.

The audio controls on the steering wheel are, if at all possible, even smaller and harder to operate (volume and mute on the left, skip, search and mode on the right).

The confusion continues. Buttons for the heated window, fog lights and hazards are lined up above the CD player, but the puny back lighting makes it hard to see which, if any, have been pressed.

There is no glove compartment, only a shallow shelf, and the cup holder looks to be a bit flimsy, secured to the centre armrest locker with a single self-tapping screw.

On the positive side all GLS models are fitted with an efficient airconditioning system with pollen filter.

The GSX models have automatic climate control.

Temperature and air flow distribution are controls via a trio of vertically- stacked dials beneath the CD player.

GSX models also have cruise control, unusual on a car in this price range, and allround electric windows.

Proton persists with its maddening decision not to fit a boot lock or remote opening so you have to dump your shopping, open the driver's door and pull a lever on the floor to gain access.

Decidedly, not good.

Depreciation will be the biggest burden for Proton owners.

A Gen-2 wont be worth as much as an equivalent Focus when it reaches three years, the point at which many owners decide to trade in for something younger.

At least the low insurance groupings and cheap servicing should help restore the balance.

The Gen-2 offers a tantalising glimpse of what MG-Rover may have become had it not gone to the wall. For a short while in 2004 the ailing British giant tried to do a deal that would have seen it using the Gen-2 as the basis for a much needed Rover 25/MG ZR replacement.

The talks eventually came to nothing but I can't help but think that Rover's influence on the interior would have been very welcome (even if it did just extend to better plastics and a few fillets of fake wood veneer).

Interestingly, while researching this road test I came across a web-site chock full of reader reviews.

Although several carped on about the plastics and one or two remarked about the noisy engine, the majority put a positive spin on life behind the wheel of a Gen-2.

Phrases like good value' and lots of equipment' cropped up frequently. It seems that for all my fellow motoring hacks may dislike them, there's a loyal band of owners out there who are ready to defend their choice of wheels.

After a week of testing I can't say I'm totally sold - a low-miles Ford Focus would seem to make more sense - but I concede that, for some, nothing can beat the feeling of owning a new car.

If you just love that neverbeen- driven feeling then I guess the Gen-2 offers a lot for the money.

It's no Focus-beater (heck, its no Nissan Almera-beater), but in terms of bang-for-your-buck the nicely-styled Proton does make a strong case for itself.

SPECIFICATION

Engine: 1.6-litre 16-valve multipoint fuel injection
Max power: 110bhp
Max torque: 109.2lb/ft
Max speed: 118mph
Combined fuel consumption: 39.2mpg
Equipment: Electric windows, power steering, ABS, EBD, 4-speaker MP 3 capable CD player, leather seats, trip computer, fuel computer, remote central locking, twin airbags, cruise control, luggage net, multifunction alarm.

What the papers say: A distinctly ordinary motoring experience, even for the money.'